Thinking of your Christmas shopping? Let us help with some book suggestions from Wales that would make brilliant gifts.
Young children will love Ble Wyt Ti, Bwci Bo? Where Are You, Bwci Bo? by Joanna Davies and Steven Goldstone, a colourful bilingual book, chock-full of rhymes, fun and games. Enfysawrws / Rainbowsaurus adapted by Llyr Titus is a bilingual LGBTQ+ picture book that follows one family's quest to find the Rainbowsaurus.
This Christmas, we see the return of Ivor the Engine, in a beautiful reproduction of the original book published first back in 1962. Doughnuts, Thieves and Chimpanzees is packed full of fun-poems, limericks, haiku, song and rap from Wales Children's Laureate Alex Wharton.
Tapper Watson and the Quest for the Nemo Machine is a lively kids’ sci-fi story from award-wining author Claire Fayers, while The Song That Sings Us by Nicola Davies is a thrilling, dangerous environmental epic that teenagers will enjoy.
For adults who love fiction, Lipstick Eyebrows, a collection of ten bold contemporary short stories, is a showcase of the next wave of talent from Welsh women writers, while Local Fires sees debut writer Joshua Jones turn his acute focus to his birthplace of Llanelli, in a stunning series of interconnected tales. The Miners Strike Back is character-driven working-class tragicomedy by Kevin Dicks.
Welsh-language fiction highlights include a short story collection from Pobol y Cwm actor, Andrew Teilo, Pryfed Undydd, and Dal Arni by Iwcs, a sequel to the popular novel Dal y Mellt, recently adapted for TV and available on Netflix.
For sports fans, Simon Williams shares an explosive account of the crisis facing rugby, in Welsh Rugby: What Went Wrong? while Gwyn Prescott provides a definitive biography of Arthur Gould, widely acknowledged as rugby’s first superstar. A League of Our Own, written by football journalist Mark Langshaw is the first book to tell the remarkable story of the establishment and 30-year history of the Welsh national league.
Garden Notes by Sue Kent is the perfect gift for keen gardeners. It contains concise information on vegetable planting, plant, and soil health, pruning tips and much more. Cywain | Harvest by Nerys Howells shares bilingual recipes from the garden and celebrates the best produce from Wales.
IMPACTArdrawiad is a must-have art book for those who have attended Angharad Pearce Jones’s exhibition at Aberystwyth Art Centre, while Peter Wakelin introduces the magic and beauty of the work of George Little, in The Ugly Lovely Landscape.
Bookshops can offer reading and gift recommendations and a personalised service. Many bookshops also have great websites and offer postal services – so you can even support your local high street from home.
Gift a book this Christmas and support your local bookshop.